Make-up and Mental Health: Uncovering the Correlation?

For many women across the UK, the thought of leaving the house without make-up is unbearable. Whether it is a full face of foundation to cover up an uneven skin tone, mascara to reduce the plucked-chicken look or just a swipe of lip-gloss, it can be a need that baffles non-make-up wearers. But whatever your stance on make-up is, you can’t deny that some women don’t feel comfortable or confident without it.

There was a time when most women did not wear make-up. For thousands of years, make-up had been the preserve of the aristocracy and actresses. However, when the Renfrew Center Foundation conducted their study of over a thousand British women recently, they found that almost half reported they would never leave the house without their definition of their daily make-up. And 44% said they needed it to cover up imperfections.

Negative Body Images

That 44% of women perceived they were imperfect is something which worried the psychologists. Negative feelings like these are associated with having a negative body image. People with a negative body image are more likely to suffer from eating disorders and practice self-harming behaviours.

Make-up as an Accessory

The researchers point out that using and enjoying make-up or shopping for your favourite products, such as Desire Duo collection make up brushes from http://www.ciaradalymakeup.com, should be a pleasure and not an obligation. Make-up should be used like an accessory. When we feel that we use our make-up as a mask to protect us from the world or to hide ourselves, it’s time to reconsider make-up.

What Makes You Beautiful?

It is often assumed that we use make-up to make ourselves appear more beautiful, but anyone who has seen shows such as Snog, Marry, Avoid knows that it can easily go too far. The Renfrew Foundation study is particularly interested in this angle of why we use make-up that does not make us more attractive.

While TV shows such as this may be funny to watch, they don’t help to alleviate negative body image issues. For most women, make-up can be used to enhance natural features or disguise slight imperfections, but when we use it regardless of its effect it may be time for some reflection on its real purpose.